For
Christians, Easter is all about the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus. These events symbolise the
rebirth eternal life of mankind . As Priests began
spreading the word of God and Jesus, they used
symbols to explain their stories.

In the
northern hemisphere, Easter is at the same time as
spring begins. Spring is the season of new life and
hope, and was celebrated annually in many pagan
cultures.

Being spring
and new, the season works in well with the rebirth
of Christians and they slowly became one
celebration.

The Easter
Mascots

From the
association with spring and new life, furry mammals
became part of many cultures' Easter traditions. In
America and Canada, the Easter Bunny delivers eggs
to the children; in the UK, the Easter Hare delivers
the eggs. The Italians, French and Belgians believe
the church bells drop off the eggs as they return
from Rome on Good Sunday.

In
Australia, Easter Bunnies have often been attributed
the task of delivering Easter Eggs to children.
However, rabbits are a nuisance and an introduced
animal in Australia. Many people, especially
farmers, are not enthusiastic about rabbits being
honoured in this way.

Thus,
Australians often talk about the Easter Bilby instead of the Easter Bunny.

What Is A
Bilby?

A Bilby,
like a rabbit, is a mammal. It is a marsupial and
belongs to the bandicoot family. They have long
hairless ears and powerful front paws for digging.

Unfortunately, there are only about 600 Bilbies left
in Australia and this number is decreasing. They are
already extinct in Victoria and NSW, and heading
that way in Queensland.

Efforts are
being made to save the Bilby. The recognition gained
by being our Easter mascot and the funds raised
through Chocolate Easter Bilbies are helping protect
the remaining animals.

How can the
Easter Bilby take over?

It is the
Easter Bunny that is most widely known, and
commercialised. It will take an overall effort for
the Bilby to become our Easter symbol, and it will
take time to overcome the Bunny associations.

As children
will see the Bunny everywhere, and hear of it, some
parents think it is too hard to change this.
However, it really is simple; and the more people
introducing the Bilby the easier it gets.

Children
will not find it hard to believe that the Easter
Bunny is very tired and finds it too hard to deliver
eggs to all the children in the world. Thus, they
can accept that the Bilby helps the Bunny by
delivering all the Australian eggs.

Not only is
the Bilby cute and native to our shores, by
accepting the Easter Bilby, we may actually prevent
another animal becoming extinct.

Tash Hughes is
the owner of Word Constructions and assists businesses
in preparing all written documentation and web site
content. Tash also writes parenting and business articles for
inclusion in newsletter and web sites.